Ali Günçar

Ali Günçar — Biography

Ali Günçar is a former defender who played six seasons for Beşiktaş in the 1990s. Because the squad also held an older player of the same first name, Ali Gültiken, he was known as "Küçük Ali" (Little Ali) while Gültiken was "Büyük Ali" (Big Ali), a nickname that became the clearest mark of his Beşiktaş years. After leaving the pitch he started coaching with Yeni Afyonspor, the club of his hometown Afyonkarahisar.

He turned professional in 1990-91 with Gençlerbirliği. His form there earned a call-up first to the Turkey U-21s and then to the Olympic side, and he was in the under-23 squad that finished second at the 1991 Mediterranean Games, losing the final to Greece; his play across the tournament was a key contribution to that result. In 1992 he moved to Beşiktaş and spent six years as one of the team's important players. In 1997-98 he was left out of the squad after problems with manager John Toshack and went on loan to Samsunspor until the end of the season. He then joined Adanaspor, where he played three seasons before retiring.

For his country he made twenty appearances in all: eight for the U-21s, four for the Olympic team and eight for the senior national side. After his playing days he chose a coaching path and worked in youth development.